Car-coupling



, (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

EHC. SHOEMAKER.

GAR COUPLING.' y No. 497,418. IPatented May 16, 1893.

Eil- UNHI uY I mnunl v 1 w l A* l 1 n 'n nl( Wim/Essa? l 'fJVVEWrZ-P 2Sheets-Sheet 2'.

F. O. SHOBMAKER.

GAR co-UPLING.- v

Patented May 16, 1893.-

rus ponms PETERS Ca, PNowLrrNo.. wAsmmrrou. nV cA Urrn raras FRANKLIN C.SI-IOEMAKER, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,418, dated May 16,1893.

Application led March 6J 1893.V Serial No. 464,649.- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN C. SHO- MAKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Three Rivers, in the county of St. Joseph and Stateof Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic .f Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention has relation to improvements in automatic car couplersand it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the same,whereby the two cars coining together will be coupled to one anotherWithout the aid of a person; and the same may be uncoupled readily fromeither side of the car or from the top or roof thereof, thus notrequiring a person to go between the cars to couple or uncouple them,all as will be hereinafter fully explained and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrates myinvention, in which- Figure 1, represents a vertical sectional View ofmy device. Fig. 2, is a front view of the same and Fig. 3, is a detailview of the coupling pin.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings A, A, designate the twodraw heads each of which is constructed like the other, the same havingthe link opening orrecesses c a which are divided by the horizontalpartition b. The upper wall of the upper space a is provided with acentral recess c or slot, while the lower iioor of the recess a has asimilar recess cand at the rear of each space c, c', is a verticalopening d, d, in which the coupling pins B, B, are arranged. VThese pinsare constructed exactly alike and are each provided with an extendedinclined arm C, C, that is formed integral therewith. These twincoupling pins consist of the larger portion e, and a reduced portion orstem f, on which is placed a nut g, on the screw-threaded portion h ofthe reduced part or stem of the coupling pins. Between this nut and thetop of the coupler is a coiled spring z', which surrounds the pins andbears continually against mal position for coupling; the lower springhas its lower end bearing upon the floor of the coupler as shown.

It will thus be seen by reference to the accom panying drawings Vthatwhen the cars are brought together, the link will enter the mouth of thecoupler and strike the inclined arm of the pin, which causes the same,with its pin to rise and permit the link to pass in rear of the same,when the pin Will immediately drop, by pressure of the spring and holdthe link iirmlyin the drawhead, thus presenting a self coupler.

In uncoupling the cars I provide means 'whereby a person can accomplishthe same without going between the cars for that purpose. It consists inproviding an upper lever j and a lower lever k, that are connected toone another by a rod Z. Each of these levers is loosely connected to theouter end of each stem of the pins, by the stem passing throughaperforation m in said lever, the latter engaging a slot n in the end ofthe plate o secured to the draw head. Each end of said stem is providedwith a nut p, against which the lever presses in operating the couplingpins when the same are uncoupled. Thus it will be observed that by thelower lever the operator stands at the side of the car and by pressingdownward upon the end thereof the twin pins are caused to move inopposite directions and release the link and allowing it to leave thedraw-head, and the same movement can be accomplished by pressure uponthe upper lever.

This coupling it will be noticed can be used with ltwo or more links ifnecessary and all the links act automatically in coupling and all can beuncoupled simultaneously by operating either of the levers, and acoupling as herein described is durable, not liable to get out of orderand at the same time cheap to manufacture.. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is# L 1. The combination with the draw head havingthe spaces c, c', of the coupling pins having reduced stems passingthrough the upper and lower chambers D D. ot' the draw heads the nut,thus keeping the pins in their nor- TOO and inclined arms, formedintegral therewith and a spring surrounding said stems and meanssubstantially as described for operating said pins.

2. The ear coupling herein described consisting of the drawheadsconstructed as dcscribed the angular inclined arms, and pins formedintegral and having reduced portions, The springs and levers the latterconnected by the bar whereby the levers are moved si- 1o multaneouslyall substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.v

FRANKLIN C. SHOEHAKER.

Witnesses:

R. W. CORNWELL, E. H. BATES.

